“What’s
wrong?” marshal Matt Dillon asked of his bewhiskered deputy as Festus reined his
mule, Ruth, to a halt and dismounted.

“Wal,
Matthew, looks like ol’ Ruth here has a pretty good gash in her forelaig from
that bramble patch we come through back yonder.” Festus had squatted down in
front of the animal’s leg and was surveying the torn flesh. “Looks like she may
need to rest a spell.” He patted the mule affectionately on the flank, removed
his dirty, misshapen hat, and wiped his arm across his forehead.

“Seems
like that hard luck spell your cousin Henry cast on you is still in full force,
Festus,” Matt answered with a chuckle. Matt and the citizens of Dodge had had a
field day watching Festus become the victim of one ridiculous mishap after
another from the time his cousin Henry Haggen had set foot in Dodge City,
seemingly adding credence to the Haggen belief that he was the bearer of “hard
luck”.

“Puh!
You got that right!” Festus replaced his hat and reached for his canteen. “If
I never see that ornery ol’ scudder or any of his half-brained brothers again,
it’ll be too soon, Matthew.” He took a long swallow of water and replaced the
canteen to its rightful place on his saddle horn.

“Matthew, I know you cain’t be awaitin’ here fer me an’ ol’ Ruth to be ready for
movin’ on, so why don’t you just go on ahaid into Dodge and I’ll see ya
directly. See if I can find me a farmhouse round where I can let ol’ Ruth get a
good night’s rest an’ maybe get holt of some ointment to put on that thar cut.”

“I
wouldn’t go back thar if’n it was the last place on earth! That’s whar them
hairbrained cuzins a mine stopped to get some vittles when ol’ Henry membered he
hadn’t brung any. They didn’t find it out ‘til later when ol’ Jefferson Dooley
tolt em, but thet ornery little young’n filt his pockets plumb full with thet
confedrite gold afore they got outa thar. He’d have everythin’ I own outa my
saddle bags and the shirt offn my back too fore I could blink an eyeball. No
sireeee. I’ll take my chances up yonder a ways.”

“Okay.
Whatever you think. I suppose I better get headed on, then. See you in a day
or so, and be careful.”

“I’ll
doer, Matthew.”

Festus
allowed the mule to graze a moment longer while he watched his good friend
Matthew disappear across the prairie. He gathered the mule’s reins in his hands
and began leading him down the trail. “C’mon, Ruth,” he cajoled. “I know that
laig don’t feel none too good, but we’ll find us a place here directly where you
ken get some rest.” He commenced to sing to the mule, his voice carrying clear
and strong on the afternoon breeze.

He had
traveled about a half mile when he spied a small farmhouse in the distance.
Moving steadily toward his destination, he saw fields thick with rich, healthy
looking crops and noticed a few chickens roaming around the barnyard. “See,
Ruth. Look at that barn. If’n these folks are half as friendly as their place
looks to be, you’ll be restin’ on some soft hay in no time.”

Festus
passed under a tall apple tree, paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, and
became instantly alert when he heard the unmistakable sound of a shell being
shoved into the chamber of a rifle. Dropping the reins of the mule, he
concealed his right hand with the animal’s body as he drew his gun, wheeling to
see who was behind him. Confused to find no one there, his eyes traveled warily
upward to the branches of the tree just as a voice called out sharply.

“Who
are ya, mister. State yer business and be quick ‘bout it.” Festus’ eyes
widened in shock as he looked up to see a grown woman sitting in the tree, feet
dangling from a low branch, a long cotton dress billowing around her ankles in
the soft breeze that had begun to blow. Cradled in her lap was the rifle. Her
hands rested on it in a way that conveyed it could be put into action at a
moment’s notice if the need arose.

Festus
replaced his gun in its holster and scrunched his eyeballs at the woman. “Now
looka here, you don’t need to be so unfriendly like, ma’am. Name’s Festus
Haggen. I come by to see if’n I could rest my mule for a spell. He’s got him a
gashed up laig and needin’ some rest.”

She let
out a laugh as she leapt out of the tree in one fluid movement and landed in
front of Festus, causing him as much surprise as the discovery of her presence
in the tree. “Festus. What a funny name.”

“No
funnier’n others I’ve heard, I don’t reckon,” Festus answered defensively.
“I’ve had it all my life. Guess I’ve growed pretty used to it by now.”

She
approached him, green eyes widening as they rested on the badge on his chest.
“Didn’t know you wuz a lawman. You a sheriff?” She moved closer as though to
make out the wording on the tin badge.

“My,
you are a ways away. What ya doin’ clear over here in this county? You been
chasin’ outlaws?” Her face lit up with a look of wondrous admiration.

“Wal, not
exactly,” Festus admitted reluctantly. “Ya see, I kinda got into a sitiation
with some harebrained relatives a mine over this here stolen gold that was
found. They sent fer me to kinda hep em out.”

Her
face fell in disappointment. “Oh. Well, Dep’ty Festus, my name be January
Morgansfeld.” She pushed a lock of chestnut hair out of her face and held out
her hand.

“January?” Festus shook her hand. “And you laughed at my name. Don’t reckon
as how I know too many she-males named January.”

“No. I
don’t reckon ya do. It’s a right purty name, tho, doncha think? My pa give me
thet name day I was born, he did.”

“Wal,
yeah,” Festus conceded. “I reckon it is at that. You live here with yer pa, do
ya?”

“Did
‘til bout a week ago. He up and died on me.” A flicker of sadness crossed her
features. “His heart broke down on him, I spose. I went on down to the crick
yonder to git some water one evenin’, and when I come back, pa was alayin’ on
the floor and he warn’t breathin’. He had his hand over his heart,” she covered
her own heart with her hand, “and I reckon it had ben painin’ him some, mebbe.”

“Well,
I studied on thet a while. I coulda rode to Mullinville and fetched the doc to
come and look at pa, but the way I figgered it, why go all the way over thar and
git the doc to come here and charge me ten cents to tell me my pa was daid when
I already knowed he was daid. ‘Sides, he coulda been spendin’ his time atakin’
care of some sick folk that might be gonna die if’n he warn’t thar with ‘em. Ya
get my meanin’, do ya?”

“Wal, I
guess that’d be ‘bout right,” Festus answered, amazed at the spirit this woman
possessed. “The buryin’ been took care of and all?”

“Oh, yes.
I tended to thet myself. Buried pa up thar on the hill next to ma. Well,
Dep’ty Festus, I got a stew in the pot over yonder in the house. Ya might as
well come on in and getcha some now thet I know you’re friendly like. Thar’s
water for yer mule at the well,” she gestured to the stone well a few feet away,
“and then ya can settle him down in the barn if’n you’ve a mind.”

“Much
obliged, Miss January. I’ll be in directly.” He headed off toward the well,
leading Ruth behind him.

Festus
tended to Ruth and sang a little ditty as he ambled up to the house. Knocking
on the door, he removed his hat as he stepped inside.

“Come
on over here and pull ya up a chair,” January invited. ‘Vittles is hot and jest
a waitin’ ta be et. May as well get to it.”

“Yes’m.” Festus filled his plate with a healthy helping of the savory smelling
stew. Taking a biscuit, he dipped it in the rich gravy and mumbled his
appreciation of the good food.

“Didya
git yer mule all settled down like?” January asked.

“Sure
did. Hope ya don’t mind, but I found some healin’ ointment and used it on that
laig.”

January
waved her hand at Festus. “Thet be what it’s thar for, Dep’ty.”

They
continued to eat in silence until Festus had cleaned his plate and January
motioned for him to help himself to seconds.

“Me and
my man and my ma and pa come out here ‘bout four years ago from Kaintucky. My
man, he died of the fever fore we ever did git here. Then, ma, she up and died
‘bout a year ago, I guess it’d be now. I think she jest died a the lonelies.
She never did like it here much, like me and pa. Always said it was too much
land for a body to live on. Kinda like she was allus lost or somethin’.”

January
sighed as she gathered the dirty supper dishes and carried them over to the sink
for washing. Festus was quick to pick up his own and deposit them on the
counter. “Kin I hep ya any, Miss January,” he asked, feeling slightly ill at
ease after hearing the woman’s revelation of her misfortunes.

“Oh,
goodness, no. Ya kin keep me company whilst I git these dishes done up, tho,
Dep’ty Festus. Why don’t ya tell me the story bout you and thet stolen gold?”
She pulled an apron off a nail in the wooden wall, tied it around her waist,
then proceeded to secure her hair back with a ribbon she pulled out of the apron
pocket.

Festus
chuckled and shook his head as he took a seat back at the table. “Wal, it all
started the day my cuzin Henry come to Dodge alookin’ fer me. He tolt me him
and his brothers had a problem needed solvin’ and---,” he hesitated. “I don’t
wanna be braggin’ none, but they aluz considered me the smart one a the Haggens.
So they commenced to figurin’ I could hep ‘em with this here problem, dontcha
see?”

January
nodded her head as she eagerly listened to what Festus had to say. “I reckon
thet’d be bout right, you bein’ a dep’ty United States Marshal and all.”

“Wal,
turned out this here was a showin’ problem and not a tellin’ problem, so they
brung me clean over here to Pratt
County. Seems them boys, Henry and Homer and Harper and Heathcliffe, they’d
managed to find this big ol’ box full o’ confedrite gold. The problem was, they
needed someone to figger out how they was gonna divide that thar gold, ya see.
The onliest thang they didn’t tell me was that them Dooleys, they’d come along
and found out ‘bout it and was wantin’ to steal it away from my cuzins, see.
Only they didn’t know it was gold ‘til that young’n at that farmhouse yonder
managed to fill his pockets with it and ol’ Jefferson Dooley, he collared the
boy and made him tell what it was he’d stolt out’n the wagon.”

January, about finished with the dishes, found herself becoming confused by
Festus storytelling and decided to hurry things along a bit with some questions
of her own. “So whar’s all the gold at now, Dep’ty?”

“Wal, I
never did have no intentions of lettin’ that gold get divided up twixt the
Haggens or them Dooleys either. I knowed it was my job to bring it to Dodge
City and let Matthew decide what wuz to be did with it, dontcha see?”

“Who’s
Matthew?”

“Why,
he’s the United States Marshal in Dodge City.
Marshal Matthew Dillon. I know he’d know what wuz to be did with that gold.”

“So how
is it you’re still here?”

“Wal,
there was a little misunderstandin’ with the law and I ended up in jail up thar
to Mullinville. Them knothead cuzins a mine dun went to work and broke me outa
jail, pulled the back plumb off’n that jailhouse.”

January
threw back her head and laughed as she grabbed for a towel to dry her hands.

“Matthew heared bout it and come on up this way to see if’n he could clear
thangs up for me.”

“So,
what happened to the gold?” January asked again, her green eyes sparkling with
impatience to hear the end of the story.

“Wal,
it ended up gettin’ sucked down into a bog out yonder. Don’t reckon anyone will
ever git to it now.”

“Don’t
make that much never mind, I don’t reckon,” January commented as she took a
chair at the table. “Gold don’t do no good ceptin’ fer allowin’ the buyin’ of a
whole bunch a stuff a body could jest as well do without.”

Festus
hesitated. “Reckon I’d be jest as comfortable in the barn. Don’t wanna be
puttin’ ya out none.”

January
shrugged, her chestnut hair reflecting the soft glow of the lamp with the slight
movement of her shoulders. “Much obliged for yer hospitality, though.”

“Breakfast be at sunup, Dep’ty Festus,” she replied. “I got lots to be tendin’
to tomorra.”

**********

Festus
and January sat side by side in the farm wagon with an easy amiability as they
made their way to Dodge City. “Hope Mr. Blevins can git me a right good price
fer the farm, Dep’ty Festus,” she reflected. The few items she had wanted to
keep, mainly clothing, were neatly packed in two large boxes in the back of the
wagon.

“Pa
worked hard on the place, no denyin’ thet. I know I couldn’t keep it up all
alone. ‘Sides, It’d be kinda hard living’ there ‘thout pa or ma around. I’m
‘fraid I’d get a purty bad case a the lonelies. Thanks for goin’ all the way to
Mullinville with me. Ya didn’t have to do thet, ya know.”

“Ah,
fiddle, I didn’t mind takin’ a ride over thar with ya.

“Them
lawyer fellars and land sellin’ folks, they tend to pay more heed to a man than
they do a woman.”

“Reckon
they allus figger a man has more of a head for bizness and such,” Festus
remarked. “’Cept Miz Kitty. She’s a fine biznesswoman. You’ll like it in
Dodge, meetin’Miss Kitty and Doc and Matthew. Why they’s the best friends a
body could ever have.”

“I
ain’t never lived in no big town afore. Not so sure as how I’ll like it, but I
be willin’ ta give it a try.”

January
made the long and dusty trip a sheer delight with her observations of the simple
things surrounding them that Festus usually took for granted. “Jest look at
thet ol’ prairie dog a scootin’ across thet meadow.” “Oh, Dep’ty Festus, hear
them geese ahonkin’ for all the world like they’re leadin’ a parade right acrost
the sky.” “Look et the way them clouds is all piled up on top a each other,
just like a tower buildin’ itself clean up to heaven.” Festus noticed the way
her hair sparkled in the sunlight and how the soft curls dancing across her
forehead added an extra attractiveness to her already pretty face. Her form was
appealing to a man, and the hillbilly deputy was not above noticing the graceful
curves that filled out her cotton dress. He shook off the funny little twinge
that seemed to make his heart beat just a little faster when she turned those
green eyes on him in a smile that could take the rain out of a thundercloud.

“You
cain’t read, can ya, Dep’ty Festus” January stated matter of factly out of the
blue.

Festus
reddened slightly. “Ah, fiddle, taint that atall, Miss January. Like I tolt
you when you handed me that thar paper, I jest didn’t have my glasses handy,
dontcha see.”

Festus
had tried desperately to cover up his illiteracy when January had handed him a
document yesterday morning, explaining to him that it was her father’s will.

“I---.” Suddenly he stopped in mid-sentence. He knew he couldn’t tell a lie as
she turned her trusting gaze toward him, expecting nothing less than the truth.
He swallowed, looked away, then met her emerald eyes. “No, I caint,” he
confessed. “I jest never did get round ta getting’ me much schoolin’ when I was
a young’n,” he hurried to explain.

“Ain’t
no need to be feelin’ shame ‘bout it, Festus. My pa and ma couldn’t read none
neither. The onliest way I learnt is cuz my man taught me after I married up
with him.”

Acutely
aware that January had addressed him for the first time without benefit of the
title “dep’ty” in front of his name, Festus felt a slight tremor of pleasure
make its way up his spine.

The
setting sun robbed the May sky of its warmth, painting the wispy clouds a soft
pink as they fingered their way into the pale blue of the horizon. January
hugged her wrap closer to her body to ward off the sudden chill that permeated
the air. She became quiet, as though putting all of her energy into keeping
warm as she moved almost imperceptibly closer to him. Soon, her breaths became
slow and even while strands of silken hair blew against his cheek as the soft,
sleeping figure of January Morgansfeld nestled against his shoulder. Her
closeness gave Festus a cozy feeling inside, the kind of feeling he got when he
caught Miss Kitty giving his dear friend Matthew one of her special,
affectionate looks.

**********

Kitty
Russell heard the familiar jangle of Festus Haggen’s spurs before his frame
appeared at the batwing doors of the Long Branch Saloon. “Well,” she greeted
him with a big smile. “Welcome home, stranger.”

Matt Dillon
sat beside the attractive redhead, his long fingers curled around the handle of
a mug half full of beer.

“You
take some time off to go fishing, did you, Festus?” Matt asked, his smile
betraying the fact that he was more relieved to see his deputy safe than upset
that he was two days later than expected.

“Wal,
not exactly, Matthew. Ya see, I met up with this here looksome shemale who
kinda----.”

Festus
was unable to complete the sentence before Matt started choking on the swallow
of beer he had just taken. Kitty tried to cover up Matt’s obvious poor manners
by addressing Festus with a subject that always interested him.

“Sure
looks like you could use a beer, Festus,” she offered.

Festus
attention, which had been directed at Matt, was suddenly diverted in Kitty’s
direction. “Wal, yes’m, I could at that. Let me see here.” He began fishing
around in his shirt pocket with all good intentions of producing a coin all
three of them knew wasn’t there.

“Uh,
that’s okay, Festus. This one is on me.” Kitty saved Festus the trouble of
having to make an excuse for coming up empty handed. “Sam,” she called. “Bring
Festus a beer, please.”

The
bartender complied with a big smile for Festus as he placed the beer in front of
the deputy. “Good to see you back, Festus. We were getting just a bit
worried.”

“Wal, as I
started to say,” Festus gave Matt a sidelong glance before continuing, “I found
this here farmhouse right past where you left me at, Matthew. Nice place, it
was, fields agreenin’ up real nice and chickens plump enuf for Sunday vittles.
Real looksome shemale lives thar, name a January Morgansfeld.”

“January?” Kitty and Matt both stated at the same time.

“It’s a
purty name, onct ya get used to it,” Festus defended.

“It
does have sort of a ring to it,” Matt admitted, eying Kitty with a secret grin.

“She
dun lost her pa jest a few days afore I got thar, the last kin she had in these
parts.”

“Oh,
that’s too bad,” Kitty sympathized.

“She
decided she couldn’t keep the place up all by herself, dontcha see, so she and I
went in to Mullinville and got some legal doins’ took care of, and wal, she come
on into Dodge with me.”

Matt
managed to take another swallow of beer without mishap, but his eyes widened to
twice their normal size at this announcement from Festus.

“Where
is she, Festus,” Kitty asked, as though she expected him to say she was hiding
behind his chair.

“Oh, I
dun got her all set up over thar with Ma Smalley, Miz Kitty. She was gonna
freshen up a bit and then head on over here. I tolt her all bout you and
Matthew and ol’ Doc. She’s awantin’ to meet ya all.”

No
sooner had Festus completed the statement than a middle-aged woman with chestnut
hair pulled back with a pale yellow bow that matched her dress appeared at the
batwing doors. Soft curls framed a gentle face dominated by emerald green eyes
that sought someone familiar with the uncertainty of not knowing if she would
find him there. Kitty took note of the stranger, offered her an encouraging
smile, and motioned to Festus. “Looks like this may be your lady friend now.”

Festus
turned and almost toppled his chair in his haste to vacate it and reach the door
where January stood. “Good evenin’, Miz January,” he greeted her eagerly.
Offering his arm, she took it and smiled up at Festus.

Kitty
exchanged a brief look with Matt that warned him to be on his best behavior.
Matt responded with a reassuring nod.

“Miz
Kitty, Matthew, this here is Miz January.”

Matt
stood to acknowledge the lady’s presence and Kitty reached out warmly and caught
her hand in her own. “Pleasure to meet you, January.”

“Pleasure, ma’am,” Matt echoed, tipping his hat as he sat back down.

Festus
pulled a chair out for January. “It’s so nice ta be meetin’ ya. Dep’ty Festus
has told me so much bout ya.”

“He was
just telling us a little bit about you,” Kitty stated. “Oh, would you like a
beer?”

“Would
I be imposin’ any if I asked for a cup a coffee, Miz Kitty?” January replied
uncertainly.

“Always
have coffee,” she answered. “Sam, bring the lady a cup of coffee, please.”

The
four chatted together for quite a while, Kitty and Matt having taken an instant
liking to the straightforward and amicable January. She told them of her trip
west four years ago, of the hopes and dreams that never materialized when her
husband was taken by the fever during their arduous journey. “We’d already been
married up ten years. Still, it was powerful hard alosin’ him thataway. Guess
if we know’d how things was gonna be fore we set bout doin’ ‘em, we might jest
never set out to do nothin’. I sppose thet’s why the good Lord don’t let us
know haid a time, like.”

Matt
and Kitty smiled at each other when the couple decided to depart as Festus
casually put his arm around January’s waist to escort her out the door of the
Long Branch and down the street.

**********

“Miz
Kitty. Gotta see ya first thang.” Festus entered the Long Branch and skittered
into a chair, peering behind him and out the door like a child trying to avoid
the schoolmaster’s whip.

“No. I
don’t expect to for a while either. He went out to the Bailey farm last night,
said he’d probably be there most of today. Said he needed to do some minor
surgery of some kind on Mr. Bailey, a growth on his arm I think he said.”

Festus
looked visibly relieved. “That’s good news. Gives me a chanct to jaw with ya.
I need hep, Miz Kitty. And you’re the onliest one ken give it to me.”

Kitty
raised her eyebrows in surprise. “My, I didn’t know I was so important.”

“Wal,
ya blamed sure are. Now I want Doc to meet Miz January, but you know how he is,
with his jawing and a hurrahin’ and pokin’ fun at me all the time. I don’t want
Miz January to be gettin’ the wrong impression a me, don’tcha see?”

Kitty
kept a straight face so Festus would know she saw the seriousness of the
situation. “Well, how about I have a little talk with him when he gets back to
town, Festus. Will that make you feel better?”

“Gollybill, Miz Kitty, that sure would. If anybody has any influencin’ with
that ornery old scudder, it’s you. Thanks, Miz Kitty. I need to be agettin’
cleaned up now. I’ll see ya later.” He uttered the last as he was exiting out
the batwing doors.

Festus
declaration that he was going to get cleaned up turned out to be a major
understatement. The next time Kitty saw him, she stared in shocked surprise.
She and Matt were just entering Delmonico’s restaurant for a leisurely evening
meal when she spotted him in the corner. The whiskers that usually adorned
Festus face were gone and his hair was combed back, barely brushing his collar.
The most striking thing about him, however, was the suit he wore, a pair of
tailored black pants with a matching dinner jacket over a white shirt and black
tie. His boots were polished bright enough to mirror a reflection. Across the
table from him sat January, her slim hands encircled in Festus much larger ones.

Matt
gestured toward the corner. “There’s Festus. Shall we join him and January?”
He started to direct her across the room.

Kitty
jerked Matt’s arm so hard he felt physical pain and responded accordingly with a
low moan. Kitty’s eyes were on fire with indignation as she stared into his.
“What’s the matter with you, Matt,” she hissed. “Are you so insensitive you
can’t see that there’s only one person in Festus’ whole world right now? They
would welcome an interruption about as much as the preacher competing against a
brass band in the street on a Sunday morning!”

Matt
colored as he realized his mistake. “I guess you’re right at that,” he grumbled
as he steered her to a table on the opposite side of the room from where Festus
and his companion were seated.

“You
don’t suppose there’s anything serious between those two?” Matt asked innocently
after they had placed their order.

“Oh,
no, of course not,” Kitty answered. “People only gaze into each other’s eyes
that way for the benefit of other people. A guy like Festus, he dresses like
that every now and again just for the sheer fun of it, you know?”

“Alright, alright,” Matt answered, knowing he was being mocked. “I guess I just
never thought of Festus as being – well-,” he touched his hand to his hat, then
reached for his glass of water, “romantically inclined.”

Kitty
shrugged. “Maybe the right woman never came along before. You may just find
yourself minus a deputy before you know it.”

“Now
let’s not jump to conclusions.” Matt scowled at the thought.

January and
Festus were leaving the restaurant. They walked across the room, totally
oblivious to the presence of the couple who were observing their every move.
January’s arm was firmly tucked into Festus elbow, her green eyes shining like
diamonds in the moonlight. “That was delightful, Festus,” they heard her say as
they passed by.

“The
pleasure was all mine,” came Festus reply as they exited onto the street.

“He
sure is a changed man. It’s amazing what a woman can do for a man.” She met
his eyes and her face lit up at Matt’s reply.

“You’ll
get no argument about that from me.”

“We
might better finish our meal and get back to the Long Branch, Matt.” Kitty wore
a worried look on her face. “Doc’s liable to be there, and if Festus and
January stop by, well---.”

Matt
nodded agreement. “Could make it kind of rough on old Festus, couldn’t it. All
depends on the mood Doc’s in.”

“I had
a talk with him when he came into town this afternoon, but you know how stubborn
Doc is. You can’t tell him how to behave, no matter what the circumstances.”

Kitty
and Matt hurried through the rest of their dinner, both of them feeling the
slightest bit uneasy about what might lay in store for Festus and January if
they encountered the acerbic Doc Adams.

They
need not have worried. It was a good hour later when Doc entered the Long
Branch saloon. He made his way to the table where Matt and Kitty and Festus and
January sat, engaged in light-hearted conversation. He smiled as he heard the
chuckles that escaped from the midst of the group. “Can anyone join this party,
or do you have to have a special invitation?” he asked, reaching for his ear
with one hand as he pulled a chair out from the table with the other.

“Golly
bill, Doc, whar ya been?” Festus asked.

“Working.
That’s where I’ve been. And trying to get a little rest after a hard day of
labor,” he snapped. “And just what are you doing all dressed up like the
president’s coming to town?” Suddenly, as his gaze fell on January, sitting
next to Festus, his face broke into a smile. “Say, who’s this fine lady?”

“Wal,
Doc, that’s what I been a tryin’ to tell ya,” Festus responded eagerly. “This
here is Miz January Morgansfeld, and I been a tellin’ her how you’s one a my
bestest friends and she’s been awantin’ to meet ya, Doc. January, this here’s
Doc Adams. He does all the doctorin’ for this here whole territory pritnear.”
Festus motioned with his hands in a grand gesture to demonstrate a wide area.

Doc
stood up and took January’s hand in his. “Well, Miss, it surely is a pleasure
to meet you. I’ve been hearing stirrings since I got back about a new lovely
lady in town. Now I can see why Festus is dressed the way he is. If I were in
the company of someone so lovely, I would be too.” January blushed at Doc’s
effusive compliment and Festus “ah, fiddle,” brought smiles to the faces of
Kitty and Matt.

“Now,
Miss Kitty, here, she’s been the loveliest lady in town for so long that, well,
it’s good to see a little competition.” He winked at January. She looked at
Kitty and they both laughed. Kitty visibly relaxed as Doc turned on the charm
and welcomed January into their little group of friends as openly as Kitty and
Matt had.

**********

Festus
never spoke to Matt on any personal level about January, but the marshal made it
a point to see that the deputy had one day off without question every week.
Festus and January were often seen on that special day headed out of town early
in the morning in a rented buggy, and they usually did not return until the moon
was sitting high in the sky. No one questioned where they went on their private
excursions. Many speculated on what happened between them, but no one ventured
to ask. Sometimes, Festus deposited a string of fish at Doc’s door, and one
time, he beseeched Kitty to fix a fish dinner for the five of them. Kitty
gladly obliged and the evening turned out to be one of laughter and joke telling
for all.

Kitty
was shocked when January came to her asking for a job. “Oh, not as one of your
fancy ladies that entertains the cowboys,” she explained shyly. “I could never
be any good at thet. I cain’t even stand the taste a whiskey,” she laughed.
“But I can do right good at sewin’.” She produced a dress that took Kitty’s
breath away.

“You did
this?” Kitty asked in astonishment, admiring the intricate stitching on the
ornate dress.

“My ma
learned me how to sew when I was just a young’n. I thought as how with yer
girls allus wearin’ such pretty dresses, mebbe you could use a hand in keepin’
‘em dressed in new outfits.”

Kitty
was happy to have an extra hand available to keep the girls properly attired,
knowing that Ann Madison was often overwhelmed with seamstress work. January
worked on her sewing by day, spending many afternoons in the upstairs rooms at
the Long Branch, fitting the girls for their new clothing. Kitty’s girls all
liked January, laughed with her, joked with her, listened to her words of
wisdom, offered her some of their own, used her as a shoulder to cry on when the
occasion warranted. Her appeal stemmed from the fact that she seemed ageless,
having retained many of the qualities of youth despite the tragedies she had
experienced since moving to the west.

Her
evenings were spent with Festus. They enjoyed leisurely walks through the quiet
town and sometimes were content to sit and visit in front of Ma Smalley’s
boarding house. Other evenings were spent in the company of their good friends,
Kitty and Matt and Doc, Festus spinning some wild tale while he enjoyed his beer
as January listened with appreciative smiles and occasional laughter and sipped
a cup of coffee. Doc had become much more comfortable around the new member of
their friendship circle and therefore didn’t spare Festus one moment of the
teasing that delighted him no end. January joined in the fun, somehow subtly
defending Festus in such a way as to preserve his pride without dampening the
spirit of the lively group. Kitty and Matt looked on, often exchanging glances
with each other, trying to read in January and Festus countenance just exactly
what was going on between the two, but both came away feeling bewildered.

**********

It was
one of those quietly idyllic evenings, that time of night in the Long Branch
when the main swell of activity had settled down. A couple of cowboys leaned
leisurely against the bar, exchanging pleasantries with Sam as he cleaned up and
restocked. An occasional grunt of disgust could be heard from a corner table
amid the throwing down of cards and the clink of coins as a poker game continued
its progress. Suddenly, gunshots and the angry shouts of men from down the
street shattered the peace, which had reigned over Dodge City for nearly six
weeks.

Matt
and Festus jumped up and ran for the batwings almost simultaneously in an
attempt to make sense of what was happening.

“The
bank!” Cad Mulhaney hollered as he saw the two lawmen exiting the Long Branch.
“They just come out that back winder and run down the alley, marshal. They had
a sackful of money with ‘em, I’d swear to it!”

Matt
turned in time to see two horsemen disappearing around the corner at a gallop.

“One of
‘em took a shot at me when he seen me. I tried to stop ‘em, marshal, but I
don’t think I hit either one of ‘em.”

“You
hurt at all, Cad,” Matt asked the excited man.

“No,
marshal, I’m fine.”

“Festus.” Matt turned to his deputy who was already making his way down the
street and toward the livery stable.

“I’ll
get the horses, Matthew.” Five minutes later, Matt met his deputy in front of
his office where he hastily tied bedrolls behind the saddles of his horse Buck
and Festus’ mule Ruth. They left town at a canter, waving a good-bye to Kitty,
January, and Doc who stood at the door of the Long Branch watching their rapid
departure.

**

Kitty
sat at a table at the Long Branch near the door, sipping a cup of coffee and
chatting with Doc as she prepared her paperwork for the morning bank deposit.
“Well, Kitty, I need to be heading on out to Jed Bailey’s place this morning. I
need to check that arm and be sure it’s coming along the way it should be.”

“Alright, Doc,” she answered without looking up. “Come on by when you get back
to town. I’ll buy you a drink.”

Doc
glanced at the door in time to see January as she entered. “Looks like I timed
that just right. Here’s some delightful company to replace this old sour puss.”

Kitty
glanced up and smiled with pleasure as January came over and took the seat Doc
had vacated. “Bye, Doc,” she smiled at him.

“I’ll
bet you could use some coffee,” Kitty offered.

She
nodded her head. “Sounds fine.” Kitty filled a cup and set it down in front of
January, then picked up her pen to put the finishing touches on the bank deposit
slip. “Mary Lou is tickled about that green dress you’re making for her. She
told me she’s wanted a dress that color all her life. She couldn’t believe it
when she saw the material at Jonas’ store.”

Kitty
looked up when January didn’t answer. “The last thing on your mind is that
dress right now, I’d say.”

January
was staring off into space, her coffee untouched. “What?” she asked with a
start, realizing Kitty had been speaking to her.

“I
doubt it. It all depends on how long it takes them to catch up with those bank
robbers. Could be another day, could be a week. Then, if Matt or Festus should
be---.” She decided against completing the thought, seeing the worried look
that clouded January’s face.

“How do
you go ‘bout reckonin’ with it, Kitty. I mean, me and Festus, we’re just good
friends, but you and the marshal, well, he bein’ yer man an’ all.”

Kitty
sighed, took a sip of coffee, and slowly lowered the cup to the table. “I’ve
said good-bye to Matt a hundred times,” she reflected, “and it doesn’t get any
easier. Every hour he’s gone seems like a month. My heart’s in my mouth each
time a stranger comes in for fear he’s got bad news. I can’t hardly breathe
until I see that big cowboy ride back into town. When he’s hurt, a part of me
kind of dies until I know he’s going to recover, then I start wondering about
next time.” She sighed again, a heavy sigh that carried the memories of a lot
of years.

“I
reckoned it’d be ‘bout like that fer ya. Me and Festus, folks been wonderin’
‘bout us, have they?”

Kitty
smiled, pulled out of her despondency by January’s innocent question. “Oh, you
might say there’s been some speculation.”

“Truth
is, Festus and I have a secret.”

“Oh?”

“You
good at keepin’ secrets, are ya, Kitty? Ya gotta promise not to tell Festus I
tolt ya.”

January’s green eyes met Kitty’s blue ones, seeking the trust a child would look
for in a best friend. “Your secret is safe with me, I swear it.” Kitty lifted
her hand as though taking the oath in a courtroom.

“Ya
know all them trips we been takin’ outa town. First time we left town, we was
alookin’ fer a nice quiet place where no one was like to come along and be
disturbin’ us like, ya see. We found what we wuz alookin’ fer, alright. Little
place ‘bout two miles from here where the river kinda runs over these here
rocks, makes music for the birds ta sing to. Thar’s some trees protects us from
the sun by day and the grass be so soft an’ green. A body can take his shoes
off an’ lie back and relax and watch the clouds all day if’n he’s a mind. That
is, if’n he don’t have better thangs ta do like me an’ Festus, thet is. It’s so
secret like, we don’t have no worries bout’ someone findin’ us when we’re doin’
somethin’ personal.”

Kitty
covered January’s hand with her own to hide her embarrassment at the other
woman’s anticipated account of their activities. “You don’t have to tell me
everything that goes on between you, you know.”

“Fact is, I
been teachin’ Festus how to read.”

Kitty
drew back her hand and covered her mouth with it as her eyes widened in shock.
She couldn’t have been more surprised if January had told her straight out what
Kitty had thought the conversation was leading up to in the first place.

“You
what? How did you ever manage that?”

January
laughed. “He tolt me how you and the marshal and even Doc had tried to get him
to learn. He even give me thet line ‘bout how he didn’t know folks what wrote
the readin’ wrote the readin’ right. Well, I found an argument for thet. Tolt
him it be a sin if’n he don’t believe what was writ’ in the Good Book, so we
been reain’ out’n it.”

“Well,
for heaven’s sake. I must say, you’ve accomplished more with him than any of us
ever could.”

Three
more long days dragged by before Festus and Matt finally returned to town, one
prisoner in tow and a dead body slung over the back of Matt’s horse.

“Prisoner’s name is Hank Beal,” Matt informed the curious group gathered at the
Long Branch for a much needed beer. “He’s only a drifter that got hooked into
this deal. I don’t think Judge Brooker will give him too stiff a sentence,
maybe a year or two in jail since the money was recovered and no one was hurt.”

“He give up
soon’s we caught up with ‘em,” Festus explained. “They sure give us the slip
right off. They was the slipperdiest outlaws Matthew and me dun tracked in a
long time, ain’t that right, Matthew?”

“They
had us on the trail long enough,” Matt agreed. “Probably the reason Jack Stone
got away with so many bank robberies. No one ever stuck with trailing him long
enough to catch him before.”

“Jack
Stone!” Doc exclaimed. “Why, he’s one of the most notorious bank robbers in
the northern territory. What was he doing clear down here?”

“Don’t
know, Doc, but it was a mistake. Turned out to be the last one he’ll ever
make.”

“Wal,
I’m glad ya both be back safe.” January reached over and took Festus hand in
hers. “it gets lonely for womenfolk when menfolk ain’t around.”

“I take
exception to that.” Doc gestured vehemently with his beer.

“Oh,
now, Doc, you know we always appreciate your company and your attention,” Kitty
soothed. “It’s just that, well, you’ve been so busy, we haven’t hardly seen you
all week.”

Doc
pulled on his ear and rubbed his hand across his mustache. “Well, I suppose
that’s true,” he conceded.

Nathan
Burke appeared at the batwing doors, peered inside, then entered the Long Branch
and strode directly toward Matt. He removed the deputy badge from his shirt and
handed it to him. “Town was real quiet while you and Festus were gone,
marshal.”

“That’s
good news, Burke. Thanks for looking after things for me.”

“Heard
you got Jack Stone. Quite a feather in your cap, marshal. The law’s been after
him for months, I’ve heard.”

“Well,
I think he operated in areas where there wasn’t much law. He was a slick one,
though.”

Burke
continued to hover, waiting for an invitation to sit down that was not offered
by any of the close-knit group sitting at the table. “You going to go to the
bar and order a beer, or are you just going to stand around staring at us all
night?” Doc asked irritably.

“Oh, I
suppose I could, Doc. I just came in to return the marshal his badge.”

“You
already did that,” Doc reminded him as he swiped his mustache.

“Well,
I know, Doc. Oh, I almost forgot. I have something here for Miss January.”

January
looked at him in surprise. “For me?”

“If you
have something for the lady, Burke, give it to her,” Doc ordered gruffly.

Burke
fished in his shirt pocket, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to
January. “Telegram for you, Miss. All the way from St. Louis.”

“Thank
you, Mr. Burke.”

“I
suppose you know every word it says, too,” Doc snapped.

“No, I
don’t, Doc,” Burke protested. “Barney took it down. I told him I’d bring it
over here for him and see if Miss January was here with Festus. Think I’ll just
go on over and get that beer.” He backed away, keeping one eye on Doc as though
he feared the physician might strike at him like a rattlesnake.

Matt,
Kitty, Doc, and Festus attempted light conversation, then fell into an uneasy
silence as January read the paper in her hands. Her fingers shook as she read
the words, folded the paper, and looked up, a vacant stare clouding her eyes.

“Bad
news, is it?” Festus asked, breaking the silence.

She
didn’t answer immediately. Rather, she took a deep breath, glanced up at Kitty,
and turned to Festus. “I b’lieve I’m ready to be headin’ fer home now, Festus.”

“Yes’m,” he replied, jumping up hurriedly, betraying the tension he was
feeling. January waved and mumbled good-bye in response to the farewell
comments of the threesome who were left.

Festus
held January’s hand as they made their way down the street and across to Ma
Smalley’s boarding house. She sat down on the step and motioned him to take a
seat beside her. Slowly, she lifted her hand to his face and touched his
cheek. “Festus,” she began, then looked away.

Festus
caught her chin in the palm of his hand and turned her to face him. “January,
tell me. What is it?” His eyes searched the serious lines that had chased away
all the sunshine in her usually bright smile.

“It’s
my Aunt Clare in St. Louis. She be ailin’. She needs me to go to her fer a
spell. I gotta go, Festus. She’s my ma’s only sister. We be owin’ her a lot.
She hepped us onct when we was needin’ it real bad, my ma and pa and me.” She
buried her face in her hands and shook her head from side to side. “I gotta
go.”

Festus
put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to him. “I reckon ya do.
Kin needin’ kin, that’s a mighty powerful thang.”

January
uncovered her face and wiped a tear from her eye with the back of her hand.
“Reckon I’ll buy me a ticket in the mornin’ fer thet noon stage goes east. It
be a long trip. Best git to it.”

Festus
patted her shoulder. “I reckon it ain’t gonna be no easier asayin’ good-bye
tomorra than any other day.”

She
leaned her head against his chest and let the tears she had been holding in
check soak into his shirt. “Don’t seem thet long ago I tolt you if’n we could
see how thangs was gonna turn out, we might never do nuthin’.”

Festus
nodded. “I remember. But ya know what. Even tho’ I’ll be missin’ ya terrible,
I wouldn’t trade this time we’ve had together fer nuthin’ in this whole world.
Never quite knowed no shemale like you afore.”

“Ya
found me when I was havin’ some hard times, ya did. Brung me ta yer town, made
me welcome. You and yer friends took me into yer hearts, made me feel like I
belonged somewhars. Made me feel like I had a home, even tho’ I didn’t have no
more kina my own round abouts. I”ll not be soon forgettin’, Festus.”

“Dodge’ll always be here, January. So will we, most likely.”

She
smiled. “I’ll be rememberin’ thet, I will.”

*********

January
and Festus held hands like high school sweethearts saying good-bye for the
summer as they stood at the stage depot, sharing their last few moments
together.

“Dun
bought somethin’ fer ya, thought it might hep ya remember me.”
Self-consciously, he pulled a small box out of his pocket and placed it in
January’s hand.

She
stared at it for a long moment, then met his eyes as she blinked back tears from
her own.

“Well,
ya might as well go to work an’ open it. See if ya like it leastways.”

She
smiled through her tears and lifted the lid off the small box. Inside sat a pin
of gold adorned with five small green stones. “Oh, Festus,” was all she could
say as she choked up.

“Mr.
Jonas tells me that be real gold. Kinda reminded me of the value of us bein’
friends, ya know, precious as gold. Them green stones, they match the green a
yer eyes. They’s five of ‘em, jest like there was allus five of us at the Long
Branch, you and me and Miss Kitty and Matthew and ol’ Doc.”

January
threw her arms around Festus neck, oblivious to any activity going on around
them in the street. She pressed her lips to his cheek and he caught her hands
in his and brought them to his lips.

“Oh, I
almost forgot myself.” She reached into a pocket of her bag and brought out a
small item. “I didn’t pay cash money for this, got it from the preacher over
yonder at the church, but I know it’ll have meanin’ fer ya.” She pressed the
item into his hands. “It oughta fit right in yer pocket, so’s ya can allus
carry it around.”

Festus
looked down at his hands. There sat a book, bound in black with red edging to
the pages, the gold letters “The Book of Psalms” embossed into the leather.
Festus swallowed hard as he caressed the lettering with his fingers.

“There
be some right purty words in them Psalms alright. Don’t reckon I’d aknowed
‘bout any of ‘em if it warn’t fer you.”

The
stage came rushing in amid a cloud of dust and the noise of horses’ hooves
pounding the hard-packed street.

“Reckon
you’ll ever tell ‘em?” January asked.

“Tell
who what?” he asked as he handed her bags to the driver to be stored on top of
the coach.

“Tell
Doc an’ the marshal an’ Miss Kitty thet ya ken read.”

He
smiled. “I think not. Mebbe Miss Kitty one a these days. She ken keep secrets
purty good.” January’s eyes sparkled as she smiled with the knowledge that she
was able to attest to that fact.

It was
that smile and the many that had gone before that remained etched in Festus
memory long after the dust settled behind the departing stage. Smiles and a
pair of green eyes that sparkled and danced like the rays of the setting sun on
a rippling river.

***********

“I’m
worried about him, Kitty.” Matt leaned over the bar, beer in hand, his forehead
furrowed with lines of concern.

“He
needs time, Matt. Give him a few more days. He’ll come around.”

“You
know, I was sure he’d at least let me read that letter January sent him from St
Louis. I know he’d rather die than ask Doc to read it. Unless he’s asked
you?” His eyes seemed to light up with a sudden understanding.

“No.
He hasn’t asked me. What did he say when you gave it to him?”

“Well, he
opened it, kind of scanned it, and then folded it back up and put it in his
pocket. When I offered to read it, he said something about being happy to know
his name was at the top and hers at the bottom. That was it.”

“I
don’t think you have much to worry about. I have a feeling Festus knows a lot
more about what was in that letter than you give him credit for.”

Both
turned toward the door as the unmistakable jangle of a certain pair of spurs
mixed with the voices of Festus and Doc.

“So yer
a tellin’ me I should buy me a lota land case January comes back to Dodge, Doc,
but ya ain’t tolt me yet what ta do with a lota land if’n she don’t. Now, a
little land, mebbe I could see that, ya see.”

“Oh,
for heaven’s sakes,” Doc answered as he tugged at his ear. “Let me buy you a
beer so you’ll hush up for a minute. A man can’t even think with you jabbering
all the time.”

“Now,
Doc, just a blamed minute---.”

Matt,
who had turned to the door at the sound of the familiar bantering between the
two old friends turned back to Kitty with a relieved look on his face. “How do
you know?” he asked quietly.